HUNTERS 145 



same if he is the right sort, but he probably is 

 also more sensible, and he is certain to be much 

 more active, than his low-bred compeer. The 

 same well - set - on head and neck, sloping 

 shoulders, short, strong back, good quarters, 

 arched ribs, long, powerful forearms, well- 

 developed second thighs, and good legs and feet 

 are required in every country, and in every class 

 of horse, and given these requisites, with a 

 generous, bold, even temperament, the thorough- 

 bred will always out-pace, and out-stay the other. 

 When one hears of riders having to dismount and 

 lead their steeds home after an exceptionally 

 hard day, it is a safe bet to make that they had 

 not been riding thoroughbred horses, if they were 

 in any condition to go at all. I have never owned 

 a thoroughbred horse in my life that would not 

 trot home, though many a time there have been 

 more than twenty miles to cover, after a specially 

 hard day. 



To illustrate the above remarks I may mention 

 that some years ago I was riding Belmont, when 

 we were drawing some wild gorse on the steep 

 sides of Knock Ion, a lofty hill on the shores of 

 Lough Derravaragh in Westmeath. Belmont was 

 a beautifully bred horse, by Cambuslang out of 

 Geraldine by Solon (the sire of Barcaldine) out 

 of Gramachree the own sister of Irish Bird- 

 catcher, and Faugh a Ballagh. Belmont had won 

 many races for me, but just then he was crawling 

 about over rocks and hillocks on the mountain 

 sides like any old shooting pony, when a lady 

 rode up to me and said, " Isn't that Belmont ? I 

 thought you were going to run him again." " So 

 I am," was the reply. " But what are you going 

 to run him in ? " she rejoined ; " and why are you 

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